A compilation of structural steel properties, dimensions, and load-bearing capacities, often presented in a tabular format, facilitates efficient and accurate structural design. This resource typically includes data on various steel sections, such as beams, columns, and angles, along with their respective weights, areas, moments of inertia, and other relevant specifications. An example would be a chart listing the available sizes of wide-flange beams and their corresponding section moduli.
Such resources are indispensable for structural engineers and other construction professionals. They streamline the design process by providing readily available information crucial for determining the appropriate steel members for a given application. This ensures structural integrity, safety, and optimized material usage. Historically, these compilations evolved from handbooks and slide rules to sophisticated software and digital databases, greatly increasing the speed and accuracy of structural calculations.
